A pastry chef returns to her roots and discovers that the flavour of first love improves with age.

Twenty–five years ago, Polly and Matt were in love–but their relationship came to a traumatic end following the death of her best friend.

Now Polly Chappell has moved back to her home town to open a patisserie and care for her elderly parents, and the last person she wants to see is Matt Enright. Until she actually sees him, that is…

Their attraction turns out to be stronger than ever, but both have their reasons to resist rekindling their romance–until someone attempts to run Polly out of town with escalating threats and vandalism, and Matt's protective instincts surface.

Product description

Product Description

A pastry chef returns to her roots and discovers that the flavour of first love improves with age.

Twenty–five years ago, Polly and Matt were in love–but their relationship came to a traumatic end following the death of her best friend.

Now Polly Chappell has moved back to her home town to open a patisserie and care for her elderly parents, and the last person she wants to see is Matt Enright. Until she actually sees him, that is…

Their attraction turns out to be stronger than ever, but both have their reasons to resist rekindling their romance–until someone attempts to run Polly out of town with escalating threats and vandalism, and Matt's protective instincts surface.

When Polly Chappell made the decision to pack up and leave Sydney to head home to Langbrooke and care for her elderly parents, she knew it would be difficult to return to her home town. Twenty five years previously her best friend Bron had died – it was declared a tragic accident with no one to blame, but Polly had fled after her boyfriend Matt deserted her and everyone seemed to think it was her fault. Polly hadn’t been back other than to visit her parents. But it was time now – she was determined to make a go of it and opening her own shop – Polly’s Patisserie - felt like a dream come true.

The day that Matt Enright entered her shop, his shock at seeing her and her own response of heart thumping breathlessness made Polly give herself a serious talking to. She had no intentions of getting involved with Matt again – after all, she and her eighteen year old daughter Gemma had been a unit for a long time; they didn’t need anyone else…

But there were people in town who didn’t want Polly there. And the danger escalated as whoever it was tried to get her to leave town. The vandalism and vicious threats upset Polly; Matt was angry and his protective instincts meant he would do his best to keep Polly safe. But would it be enough? Would Polly have to give in to the bullies and return to Sydney?

Return to Jacaranda Avenue by Aussie author Kerrie Paterson is a delightful rural romance set in the countryside north of Sydney in the Hunter Valley area. The setting actually reminds me of the small town of Morpeth set on the Hunter River. The book is laced with tension with the ending a gripping but satisfying finale. Another well written novel by this author, who likes her characters to be in their forties and above; it works well. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommendable.

4.0 out of 5 starsWe have two people who were once madly in love (arguably they never stopped

1 June 2016 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: Kindle Edition

Everyone has a few skeletons in their closet none moreso than Polly Chappell who has returned to her hometown after leaving under difficult circumstances decades earlier. Polly’s return and subsequent opening of a patisserie business is overshadowed by her past and as expected in a small town it isn’t long before she in reunited with her childhood boyfriend, Matt Enright.

Their relationship is well developed. Their initial chemistry is evident yet their restraint in rekindling their relationship is also on show. We have two people who were once madly in love (arguably they never stopped!) but life experiences and a broken marriage each sees them bring baggage to the mix. They do overcome this however and in doing so, Patterson gives readers an entirely enjoyable sweet romance.

4.0 out of 5 starsA lovely second chance romance with a thread of mystery

4 June 2016 - Published on Amazon.com

Format: Kindle Edition

When Polly returned to her home town after twenty five years she knew it wasn’t going to be exactly easy, but it was necessary. Her parents had reached an age where they really needed her help. The chance to open up her pastry shop and raise her teenage daughter in the small town where she grew up was, if not a great idea at least it was acceptable now.

Years ago she had run from her home town after the death of her best friend. While her death had been ruled an accident, Polly still shouldered guilt and many others blamed her as well. Matt, the young man she’d been so in love with had pretty much turned his back on her when she needed him most. Yet it had been more than two decades ago, surely they were both adult enough to live in the same town and avoid each other, right?

Return to Jacaranda Avenue is very much a second chance romance with a mystery thread woven through it. Someone doesn’t want Polly back in town and they will resort to threats, vandalism and more to insure that she does not stick around. Too much is at stake and Polly will not be frightened away. She’s stronger, and she has Matt in protective mode – she’s staying put.

I enjoyed Return to Jacaranda Avenue, especially since we have a couple who are not in their first blush of youth any longer. They may have history, but they have grown and experienced life and that reality is also brought into their new relationship. We don’t often get a “do over” in life – grab it if you can and turn those mistakes around into something good for the future. The chemistry between Matt and Polly was strong, even after all these years and that mattered, that proved that they did belong together. The mystery is wrapped up, but it was intriguing to try to figure out who was behind it all.

I would definitely recommend this one for Romance fans, and those who like their Hero and Heroine to have a few years of life experience on them to bring to the story.

*I received an e-ARC of Return to Jacaranda Avenue from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*